Mountains of the Moon

Shankar Roy Chowdhury, a 20-year-old Bengali man, graduates and rejects a dull jute mill life in favor of wild lands. He has read about famous explorers and longs to follow in their footsteps. Through a fellow villager, he secures a job as station master on the desolate Uganda Railway and sails to Africa eager for danger and discovery.

One evening a man-eating lion chases him and he barely escapes by reaching his cabin and locking the door. The ordeal steels his resolve to survive in Africa and fuels his longing for greater challenges.

The head stationmaster provides a Springfield rifle and carbolic acid for protection, and Tirumal Appa soon delivers them as well. Shankar learns to use them against predators, including a near-miss with a black mamba when he lamps it with his torchlight.

Tirumal Appa visits frequently, forming a strong bond with Shankar. Their companionship highlights the harsh life at the station and mutual support amid danger.

Tirumal becomes a victim of the same man-eating lion. Shankar's anger and sense of responsibility grow as he resolves to end the peril for himself and others.

Shankar creates a blood lure, trails the lion, and shoots it. The kill marks a turning point from observer to protector and hunter.

Shankar rescues the middle-aged Portuguese explorer and gold prospector Diego Alvarez. Alvarez’s stories of past exploits inspire Shankar to dream bigger and consider his own legacy.

Alvarez speaks of his failed quest for a vast diamond mine and warns of the legendary Bunyip guarding it. The tale stirs Shankar's imagination about danger and fortune.

Discarding his old job, Shankar joins Alvarez on a perilous trek deeper into the jungle. They confront natural hazards, including a volcano, as they seek the coveted mine.

In a brutal encounter, the Bunyip attacks and Alvarez sacrifices himself in a bid to save Shankar. Grief-stricken, Shankar resolves to carry on the quest alone.

Shankar finds the diamond mine by accident inside a mountain cave and becomes lost. He discovers the remains of Italian explorer Attilio Gatti and learns that diamonds were hidden in Gatti’s boots. A note nearby states that whoever reads it may take the diamonds as long as the skeleton is buried with Christian rites.

Shankar is rescued by a survey team and taken to Salisbury, Rhodesia, where he recovers. He sells several diamonds to fund further exploration, sending one to his parents with a note to use its value for the villagers. With the remaining wealth, he buys a steamer to continue his journey. He ends by vowing to return to the cave one day with a large expedition to continue Alvarez, Carter, and Gatti’s legacy.